Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-09
A SONG FOR PEACE
Decoration Day, 1851


&c. While all thy hig h.
, MHv ways murmur as
m with bees.
wv II M on thy happy leas,
And roofs BY mount and mere ana oeacnes
And all my heart stirs with thy brave renown
And yields its voice-een sucn sisn' no'e' 90
these.
.rbat avn OF thee makes me loving bold
In question OF thy welfare; cen that thou
PASS on to utter peace this song fold
In flowers and thy beloved banner now,
Ind lay the tribute on thy priceless mold
Tie golden dust of each slain heros brow.
FHuck roses and mingle your tears with their
Fetch peoples that fire the long burrows Of
corn,
bring daisies meek featured, and violets blue.
All pure as babe-eyes when they twinkle at
morn.
Bring ,s spa'hes of the apple and 0'ue0ell' to
A knell that is fragrance above each green
tomb;
Bring mayflowers with dew in each white
waxen bowl.
And pnlss and laburnums just breaking in
bloom.
Bring orchis and tulips and honcyed foxglove
From hauntS where the ivy and colupib;ne
creep.
Ering softly all blossoms that honey bees love,
And garland the graves where our gallant
boys sleep.
Let children with fingers undabbled OF blood
Bear wreaths to each barrow inclosing dear
dust;
Bring sweets from the garden and fronds from
the wood.
While age gathers wisdom and swords gather
rust
A moment turn back to the days that are dead
And mark the long lines as they marshal and
clash;
With wine brewod in battle the sections are
rd,
And Order seems lost in the loud lannon's
crash
but the motive in nature is greater than men,
For links in the chain have been snapped in
the past
80 be hurled by strong Justice together again,
And in tears and in bloOdshed the rivets made
fast.
For when Earth swung out from its simbals Of
fire
On invisible cables to roll round the sun,
Was its mission not Man. and Love the strong
sire,
With Life to be forged as the cycles were
Aye, deeds are the hammers that fashion the
race,
And Earth is the anvil whereon Purpose lays
The ENDS OF all causes and snites with mace
That Yields into Orders the gold of the days
The vast human fragments must glow ere they
weld,
Be hot with red rage and the anguish of heat,
And hard on the anvil OF Purpose be held
sweet
Loi the tears of that time have turned into
pearls:
The fail OF fierce War has but beaten out
Good:
Der the blue and the gray now our banner un-
furls,
For Unions sweet flower blossomed out of
their blood.
The sweep OF the sections together in strife,
Like the smiling together Of Gods mighty
hands,
:s;mote fire round the world and thrill through
all life.
And buds Of fair freedom broke forth in far
lands.
ian wrought at Gods purpose then let US for
give.
Lo. Liberty's sunbeams our whole kingdom
kiss!
Here all are born freemen, here Justice shall
live,
Forget in the glory and greatness OF this.
Then suuthward strong North. with flowers in
your hands.
Cast looks OF glad greeting with love IN your
eyes,
And northward sweet South, warm heart OF all
lands,
Look prayer of fond peace for all the broad
skies;
For ours IS the queen of all realms meath the
sun,
The garden Of Eden. the bride OF the world;
Here Worth became sovereign, here Freedom
won,
Then keep their flag high and forever un-
furled.
Then garland each grave, and remember each
name
To breath IL with reverence up into the air,
That silence may never flow over their fame,
That valor be dear and their couches be fair.
For these are the seals of our greatness and
peace,
The arks that the Covenants ever shall hold
OF hearts that paid blood lest freedom should
cease,
Whose deeds are now jewels, whose ashes are
gold.
ALvA MILTON KERR.